Field clover duster



March 17, 1942. f R, W HARTWlCK ET AL 2,276,721

FIELD cLoVR DUSTER I Filed Oct, 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, 1942. R. W. HARTWlcK ET AL 2,276,721

FIELD CLOVER DUSTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1940 l I'ventor Fass [V65/gy W/'C A Home: ,f

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 unirse FIELD CLOVER DUSTER Ross Wesley Hartwick and Thomas Hartwick, Pinconning, Mich.

Application October 29, 1940, Serial No. 363,364

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in clover dusters and has for its primary object to provide a machine of this character comprising a novel construction and arrangement of traction driven fans adapted to pneumatically shake or agitate and remove dust from growing clover in a field thereby increasing the yield'of seed from said clover.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a clover dusting machine of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection `with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a clover dusting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, the fan hoods being omitted.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section throughout the machine, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the clutch shifting means.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a frame of channel iron which is designated generally by the reference numeral I. The frame I includes a back member 2, side members 3 and a pair of forwardly converging front members 4 which terminate in spaced relation to each other. Extending between the inner ends of the front members 4 and the back member 2 of the frame I is a pair of rearwardly diverging channel bars 5.

J ournaled in suitable bearings on the forward portions of the side members 3 of the frame I is an axle B. Supporting Wheels 'I are fixed on the end portions of the axle 6. Projecting forwardly from the frame I is a tongue-structure 8. The tongue structure 8 includes a pair of forwardly converging bars 9 having their rear portions secured in any suitable manner on the bars 5. r

Mounted transversely on the bars 9, immediate- 1y adjacent the front of the frame I, is a bar i8. Singletrees II are provided on the end portions of the bar I0.

The axle 6 is also journaled in bearings I2 which are provided therefor beneath the bars 5. Fixed on the axle 6 between the bearings I2 is a clutch member I3. Rotatably and slidably mounted on the axle 6 adjacent ,the clutch I3 is a sprocket gear I4. O-n one end of the hub I5 of the sprocket gear I4 is a clutch member I6 which is engageable with the complemental member I3 for connecting said sprocket gear to the axle 6 for rotation therewith. The other end portion of the hub I5 has formed therein a circumferential groove I1 the purpose o-f which will be presently set forth.

Rotatably mounted beneath the frame I parallel with and rearwardly of the axle 6 is a shaft I8. Fixed on the shaft I8 for rotation within the confines of the frame I is a pair of centrifugal fans or blowers It. Fixed on the shaft I8 between the fans I9 is a comparatively small sprocket gear 20. A chain 2I is trained over the sprocket gears I4 and 20' for driving the fans I9 from the wheels 1. Hoods 23 of substantially semi-circular cross section are mounted on .the frame I over the fans I9.

Pivotally mounted on one of the tongue bars 5J and extending diagonally thereacross is a lever 24. Depending from one end portion of the lever 24 is a shank 25 having rotatably mounted on its lower end a crosshead 26 which is engaged in the groove I1 inthe hub I5. At its other end, the lever 24 terminates in a laterally eX- tending fork 21 in which a foot lever 28 is engaged.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideraf tion of the foregoing. Briefly, as ythe machine is pulled over a field of growing clover with the clutch members I6 and I3 engaged'the fans I9 are driven at the required speed from the ground wheels 1. Thus, airis blown 'downwardly on the clover as the machine passes thereover for agitating said clover and removing dust therefrom. The yield of seed from clover thustreated is substantially increased. The fans I9 may be rendered inoperative when desired by disengaging the clutch member I6 from the clutch member i3 through the medium of the foot lever 28.. The reference numeralI 29 designates a seat for the operator on the machine. n

It is believed that the many advantages of a clover dusting machine constructed in accord-'- ance with the present invention will be readilyy understood and although a preferredembodiment of the device is as illustrated and described,

it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and said axle, a draft tongue including rearwardly diverging members resting on and secured to said bars, a shaft paralleling the axle rearwardly of the latter and journaled on the end members and said bars, groups of radially extending arms secured on the shaft, elongated fan blades secured to the` arms, a manually controlled clutch type drive connecting the axle to said shaft, and hoods secured to the frame and overlying the 10 fan blades.

ROSS WESLEY HARTWICK. THOMAS HARTWICK. 

